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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by JohnX2 on June 16, 2002, at 8:34:53
How does alcohol affect Lithium treatment?
Posted by Ritch on June 16, 2002, at 15:37:54
In reply to How does alcohol affect Lithium treatment?, posted by JohnX2 on June 16, 2002, at 8:34:53
>
> How does alcohol affect Lithium treatment?Good question. Lithium affects the balance of your other electrolytes such as sodium, calcium, and potassium due to ion competition. Alcohol can cause dehydration. If you get dehydrated your lithium level should shoot up, perhaps to toxic levels if your lithium level is already fairy high. Theoretically, that could cause some kind of neurotoxicity. From what I vaguely remember..my pdoc was telling me that "hangovers" were actually more dangerous than being drunk while on lithium, I think because of the dehydration/ion competition. I remember some alcohol experiences when on lithium back in the 80's, and hangovers did seem pretty nasty. I remember getting a lot of leg muscle cramps, anyway.
hope this helps,
Mitch
Posted by jaby on June 16, 2002, at 23:01:39
In reply to How does alcohol affect Lithium treatment?, posted by JohnX2 on June 16, 2002, at 8:34:53
I haven't had any troubles physically, but drinking sure seems to bring back the depression that the lithium has helped out. I find that if I just drink a little it's worse. Therefore, I don't drink unless I'm going out for a night when I'm going to have 5-6 drinks. I have given up the beer in the pool or watching a game kind of thing. That's what really seems to get me.
Posted by JackD on June 17, 2002, at 23:22:14
In reply to How does alcohol affect Lithium treatment?, posted by JohnX2 on June 16, 2002, at 8:34:53
I started out very conservatively, being careful not to drink. But alas, I'm a college student, so I fell back into drinking at parties and bars with friends. I still try to be more careful, and I'll drink a few glasses of water after say 6 dranks. Hangovers on it are no joke, so make sure to drink gatorade. I've had 12 drinks or so on Lithium without any problems, but I'm 220lbs. Lithium has made drinking a lot less pleasurable so it's rare that I do drink that much. Oh, and as for moods and depression, I don't notice an appreciable difference from drinking.
I'm on 1500mg of Lithium Carbonate a day.
This is the end of the thread.
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